Bodegas Cerresol Palma Real Rueda 2006

The Rueda area of Spain brings us this fifth wine for Spanish Wine week. As this area is primarily known for white wine it's appropriate that today's selection is just that. Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc are the primary white varietals planted in Rueda. Tempranillo, Grenache, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are the red varietals planted there. However the reds take a back seat in Rueda. The Bodegas Cerresol Palma Real Rueda 2006 is a blend of Verdejo and Viura. The retail on this wine is right around $8-$9. The nose reveals pineapple and subtle hints of guava and peach. The mid-palate features a bevy of citrus notes and more pineapple. The wine is medium bodied and has a round, fairly rich mouth-feel. It has excellent acidity and is well balanced. The finish reveals a touch of tartness along with white peach. The finish is average in length.

Palma Real has a fresh, breezy summery feel to it. It's a good match for entree salads or roast chicken dishes. Will also work well as an aperitif. For the price it's a pretty decent buy and an enjoyable sipper.

Imported by Saranty Imports

Next up is another wine in the Bodega y Vinedo Fuentecen portfolio

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Bodega y Viñedo Fuentecén - 2006 Hemar Joven

The fourth wine out of the gate for Spanish Wine Week is from Ribera del Duero. This area is right up there with Rioja for overall quality of wine produced. It's also been getting more and more attention each passing year. Ribera del Duero is an almost exclusively red wine producing region. like Rioja, Tempranillo rules the day. Smaller quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec and Merlot are also grown. Inevitably these are most often used in blends with Tempranillo. The 2006 Bodega y Vinedo Fuentecen Hemar Joven is one of four wines from this producer I'll be taking at look at over the next several days. The nose of the wine features a huge bouquet of fresh cut strawberries and a touch of candied plum. This wine is young, fresh and tank fermented. Upon opening, this wine reveals itself almost immediately. There are absolutely no harsh or rough edges to this one. The color is a brilliant black cherry hue. The mid-palate features Bing cherry and copious cherry notes. Joven straddles the line between light and medium bodied. The finish reveals just a tiny bit of tartness and tingly white pepper dancing across the tongue.

This wine has a tremendous acidity that makes it a perfect match for Pasta Primavera or other similarly light fare. Joven also drinks very well on it's own. Tasting this wine made me yearn for warmer weather so I could sit on my deck and sip the whole bottle at a leisurely pace. At 13% the alcohol is very moderate which also lends to sipping it for a longer period of time. The retail on the Joven is approximately $18. For that price I found this wine to be an incredibly enjoyable one to drink. Not the most complex wine out there, but a real pleasure to drink, and at the end of the day enjoyment is what it's all about.

Imported by The Ravensvale Group.

Up next is a Spanish white, Palma Real Rueda.

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Paul Boutinot - 2006 Tinta de Toro

Today's wine, a 2006 from Paul Boutinot, is from the Toro region of Spain. The predominate red grapes in this region are Tempranillo and Grenache. Verdejo and Malvasia are the native white varietals. The 2006 Toro is 100% Tempranillo. The first thing off of the nose is a bushel of berries. blackberries and blueberries dominate. A hint of oak and a touch of vanilla sneak into the nose as well. Right out of the bottle the wine is closed up, tight and had a few sharp edges to it. It opens up easily and quickly however, with 20 minutes really doing the trick.

Once it opens up this wine proves to be big, rich and mouth-filling with a potpourri of spices on the palate as well as more dark berry fruit. Overall, blackberry notes are the most dominant feature of this wine. An earthiness that was so subtle as to be mostly undetectable before decanting comes out once the Toro has had a chance to breathe. The spice lingers on and is a big part of the above average finish.

This wine is pretty big in the mouth and has more than a bit of a new world feel to it. It would be a good bet with a juicy burger or just about any mushroom heavy dishes.

This wine retails at around $10, and at that price it over-delivers. It's not likely to improve with bottle age, but it should drink well for the next two or 3 years. A good wine for everyday consumption or to bring to a BBQ.

Imported by Boutinot.

Up Next: The first of four wines from Bodega y Vinedo Fuentecen

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Bodegas Montecillo Crianza - 2003

The second wine I looked at for Spanish Wine Week is a 2003 Crianza from the Rioja region. A wine labeled as a "Crianza" is aged at minimum two years, with at least one year spent in oak. Age-wise this is the second rung up in Rioja. The other classifications are Rioja, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Each has specific, minimum aging requirements in oak and bottle to be labeled as such. Tempranillo is the predominant red varietal in this region. The Bodegas Montecillo Crianza has a nose that gives off cherry, oak and a subtle bit of vanilla. It's pretty tart and a touch rough around the edges out of the bottle. Decanting for about 45 minutes softens the edges and diminishes the tartness. This wine is light bodied and the mid-palate features sour cherry flavors and white pepper notes. In some ways it's similar in body and flavor characteristics to Chianti in a similar price range. The finish is below average in length, featuring more of the above-mentioned sour cherry notes. Overall it's a fairly one-dimensional wine. Not unpleasant to drink, but not really impressive in any way either.

Bodegas Montecillo Crianza retails for around $9.00. With the bounty of great deals on Spanish wines in this price range it's impossible for me to recommend this bottle. At best it's a pedestrian offering which does not do a very good job of representing the fine wines coming out of Spain as a whole and Rioja specifically. I should note that I have greatly enjoyed Bodegas Montecillo Reserva and Gran Reserva offerings in the past.

Imported by W.J. Deutsch & Sons, LTD. 

Spanish Wine week continues through the weekend so keep checking back!

Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell Jumilla - 2005

First up this week is a release from the Jumilla area of Spain. The 2005 Olivares Altos de la Hoya is composed of Monastrell.This grape is also known as Graciano which is what it's generally referred to when grown in the Rioja region of Spain. The nose of this wine is full of cloves and black cherries. The first few sips out of the bottle are tart. The wine opens up fairly quickly, but a 30 minute decant is recommended with this one to get the most out of it. The mid-palate features subtle dark chocolate notes and copious dark berry and spice flavors that dart along the tongue. This wine is well balanced with good acidity. The finish offers white pepper. For the price (between $8-$10) the finish is above average. It pairs terrifically with grilled meats and medium-strength cheeses.

There are a lot of value priced wines coming out of Spain these days, of course quality varies greatly. For it's price-point the Olivares Altos de la Hoya offers a significant amount of complexity. This is a good wine to pick up a few bottles of to have on hand when you don't want to crack anything pricier. That said it's clearly not meant for long term aging. I'll bet it drinks well until the end of 2009.

Imported by Polaner Selections.

Stay tuned for coverage of several other Spanish Wines this week.

Wine Australia Festival - New York City

Yesterday I attended the Wine Australia Festival at Cipriani on Wall Street in New York City. Hundreds of wines were available to taste from all areas of Australia. As it has the last few years, this event sold out in advance. This is no surprise since it's been a consistently good and fun event to attend. One would have a hard time getting to half the wine, let alone all of it. My strategy was to taste some whites early in the day and then walk around cherry picking between favorite producers I was already familiar with and unfamiliar ones that sounded interesting.

I'm happy to report coming across several wineries I was previously unfamiliar with that impressed. In general there are some terrific wines emanating from some of the burgeoning cooler climate areas of Australia. Yarra Valley is amongst these areas. Several Pinot Noir's I had from this area as well as Chardonnays were particularly noteworthy. Amongst them was Giant Steps. Successive vintages of their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were standouts. Both were true to their varietals and made in an old world style. They were also well balanced and built for food. Overall the number of wines I tasted yesterday made in this style was impressive.  

Another noteworthy producer was Boggy Creek Vineyards. Several of their wines were quite tasty but my favorite was a Cabernet-Shiraz blend. It was full bodied, loaded with ripe dark fruit, but not overwhelming, or overly alcoholic.

Naturally there was a lot of great Shiraz to be had. Regardless of what style you like your Shiraz, you were bound to find numerous examples to tempt your palate at the Wine Australia Festival. Additionally there were a multitude of different blends, both red and white which were impressive. Some of them were standard types of blends such as the Cabernet-Shiraz I mentioned above. But in other cases they were slightly more unorthodox. One was a Chardonnay-Viogner blend that just knocked me out. It only had a small amount of Viogner in it but it lifted the nose to stratospheric heights. This wine was by Hungerford Hill. It's in their Fishcage Series. The retail is around $12.00 and it over-delivers at that price.

These are really just a few examples of what was a lot of good and interesting wine. There was also plenty of food placed strategically throughout the room to munch on.  Water was also readily available so everyone could make sure they stayed properly hydrated. I've attended the Wine Australia event several times now. If you're a fan of Australian Wine this is a great way to taste quite a few of them and likely come away with some new favorites. If you are new to Australian Wine this tasting is a good way to familiarize yourself with the wide array of wines and styles they're producing. The Shiraz tends to get all the hype, and it's deserved as it is their signature grape. But Australia is doing so much more than that with their wines these days it's really a very worthwhile country for wine-lovers to delve into and explore.

The event itself was well organized and thought out. In addition to the normal tables where wineries, distributors and importers poured their wares there were also "Regional Heroes" tents. They would pull standout wine from one area and varietal to taste side by side. This was a good idea and a terrific way to compare wines to their counterparts.

The Wine Australia Festival takes place in New York City every January with tickets going on-sale the previous fall. If you missed it in 2008, keep your eyes open for when tickets go on-sale for the 2009 version. It's well worth the time and ticket price, which was $70.00.

Caparone - 2003 Aglianico

Aglianico is one of those grape varietals that a lot of people aren't familiar with. It's mostly found in Southern Italy, but plantings are cropping up in other parts of the world. Most notably it's being planted in Australia and California. Caparone Winery in Paso Robles California established the first American planting of Aglianico in the United States in 1988. An interesting article about their work with Aglianico and other Italian varietals can be found on their website.

The 2003 Caparone Aglianico is available, as are all their wines, for $14.00.  It opens with a heady nose of black cherry fruit. The first sip reveals readily apparent but not overwhelming oak. The mid-palate is full of earthiness and a plethora of spices. There is a muskiness to this wine that adds weight to the mouthful. The long finish is highlighted by smoke and pepper notes.

This Aglianico is impeccably balanced with good acidity. As stated oak is readily apparent but doesn't detract from the fruit at all. It drinks fine on it's own, but the Caparone wines are built for food. Also like the other wines the Caparone's make this Aglianico is built for the long term. I'd expect the earthiness on this one to increase with some age. For $14.00 you're going to have a hard time doing better.

Dreyer Sonoma Chardonnay - 2005

The 2005 Dreyer Sonoma Chardonnay is a value priced bottling. It Comes in at around $12.00 a bottle. Often it's hard to find drinkable chardonnay in this price category. Most often if I want an enjoyable Chardonnay in this price range I look towards South America. This one leads with a nose of baked apple and vanilla. The apple is particularly strong and really provides a heady scent. There's a touch of citrus on the first sip which leads into the acidity the wine does have. The mid palate features more baked apple, and some mulled spices alongside subtle guava notes. The finish has a fair amount of toasty oak on it, though not so much to overwhelm. For a wine in this price range the finish is pretty decent. Each taste drew me in for another sip which is always a good sign. I found this wine to drink well on it's own. Paired with grilled chicken the vanilla and spice notes came out in greater prominence.

For the price the Dreyer Chardonnay is a decent value. It does provide true Chardonnay character and the oak doesn't overwhelm as can so often be the case with California Chardonnay in this price range.

Sun Winefest at Mohegan Sun

This weekend Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville Connecticut hosted Sun Winefest. Several events were offered throughout the course of the weekend,  but the centerpiece was the Grand Tasting. This took place both Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th from Noon to 5:00 PM. Separate tickets were available for each day. Additionally a weekend pass was available at a reduced rate that would gain you entry for both days. I attended both days of Winefest and it was a very well organized event. Approximately 1,000 wines were available to be sampled from all over the world. Several hundred spirits and beers were also available for tasting. A handful of exhibitors were there showcasing related products and lifestyle accessories. Numerous area restaurants were on hand to cook signature dishes and provide samples for a small fee that went towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

Wines were setup at booths throughout the Mohegan Sun convention center. Many of them were poured by the local distributors who bring these wines to market in Connecticut and neighboring states. However in some cases people from the wineries themselves were on hand to pour their wines and answer questions. In several instances the winemakers were available to pour and chat. For folks who may not have had the opportunity to travel to one of the great wine producing regions of the world this was a terrific opportunity to approximate the tasting room experience at a winery.

The wines available to taste ran the gamut from bargains that you could think about drinking everyday, to higher end wines aimed at special occasions, or for tucking away in your cellar to age. If you wanted to focus on just white, just red or even one varietal there where enough choices and variety that you could easily fill up the 5 hour event creating any sort of tasting you desired. The foods presented were also a broad range of offerings. At one table I had a delicious Pasta Bolognese while at another across the room I had Corn Dogs made with Kobe Beef Hot dogs. Water was placed strategically throughout the venue so everyone could access it easily. Live cooking demonstrations also went on at a stage towards the entrance to the convention center. There were chairs available so anyone who wanted to take a break from tasting could sit and watch some well regarded chefs cook.

I've attended a lot of large scale wine tastings such as the Sun Winefest. Often with crowds as large as the ones gathered at Mohegan Sun this weekend it's very difficult to get around. Whoever setup the floor-plan knew what they were doing. The layout and flow of the room was better than many tastings of similar scope and size that I have been to. A similar type of tasting at Foxwoods last fall for example was an absolute nightmare to navigate. Perhaps this is a testament to the fact that Mohegan Sun has been hosting their tasting for five years while it's only been two for Foxwoods.

Entry for one day of Sun Winefest was $65.00. This is an absolute bargain for wine lovers. There are many events throughout the year that cost more, don't run nearly as long and have nowhere near the selection of wine, spirits, beer and food. For $95.00 you could buy a weekend pass that would get you into the Grand Tasting both Saturday and Sunday. To put the scope of the event in perspective, if you went both days, you would have to taste 100 wines per hour to get to every wine. Not that I'm recommending anything of the sort. It's better to take the five hours and soak in the atmosphere. Take time to talk to people and learn about them and the wine they're pouring for you. More than likely, you'll walk away with a few new wines to seek out for your collection.

If you missed Sun Winefest in 2008 I strongly urge looking into it for 2009. It's one of the better tastings around and an excellent value to boot.

Ludo - You're Awful, I Love You

Saint Louis based rock band Ludo are set to release their major label debut on February 26th. They recorded the album in L.A. over a stretch of approximately two months. Matt Wallace who has worked with artists such as Faith No More, Maroon 5 and Blues Traveler produced. One thing many of the artists Matt Wallace has worked with have in common is they feature well crafted songs. Ludo is no exception to this. You're Awful I Love Youis full of terrific harmonies and hooks. Imagine songs as catchy as the jangly guitar pop Fountains of Wayne creates, and lyrics as cynical as Warren Zevon's. That would give you an entry point to understand Ludo's sound. They are however, much more than that.

Their stated motto is to "entertain people without making them dumber." They achieve that goal on their major label debut. "You're Awful, I Love You" is an incredibly entertaining, catchy, easily accessible album to listen to. But it has a ton of substance and not only bears but rewards repeated listening. Beneath the amusing lyrics there are layers of musical complexity. On some tunes, guitar is out-front. In other cases the guitar takes a back seat to the Moog Synth that Tim Convy plays to great effect. On every song they manage to create wildly catchy melodic rock with great harmonies and darkly amusing lyrics. If that sounds like your cup of tea I recommend marking the February 26th release date on your calendar and grabbing "You're Awful, I Love You" before everyone else on your block has it. Ludo sounds like they're poised for great things. Don't be the last one to catch on.

Victor Hugo Winery - The Hunchback 2005

Victor Hugo Winery in Paso Robles is a family run operation with a focus on red wines. The one exception is an elegant Viogner that they make each year. They work with all of the red Bordeaux varietals in addition to Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah. In addition to being rich and  lush what is most readily apparent about their wines is that they are well balanced. Alcohol, acidity and upfront fruit are all in check with each other. In addition to their varietal bottlings Victor Hugo Winery makes two blends. One is Opulence a Meritage/Bordeaux style blend and the other is The Hunchback. Both of these vary each year as they strive to find the best blends to make a great wine. The Hunchback blend seems to vary more significantly from year to year. The 2005 version is 50% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 15% Petite Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc.

Even though it's only 15% of the blend the Cabernet Franc is the first thing that stood out to me in the 2005 Hunchback. As is often the case, Cabernet Franc lends itself to a big, inviting nose. In this case it comes in the form of candied blueberry and plum aromas. The first sip reveals a potpourri of spice along with dark berry fruit notes. There are soft but firm tannins on the mid-palate which soften further with 30 minutes or so of decanting. Once the Hunchback opens up further it reveals some mouth filling black cherry flavors and a finish laced with tingly white pepper. Once it breathes a bit the Hunchback has no hard edges, just smooth enjoyable drink-ability. The Hunchback is built for food. it's a medium bodied red that will stand up to meats and cheeses but won't overwhelm lighter fare either.The tannic structure it does have suggests to me that it will improve even more over the next couple of years and drink well for three to five. At a retail price of $15.00 the Hunchback is well worth every penny.

I'm a huge fan of the Victor Hugo Winery offerings and encourage anyone who has a chance to seek their wines out.

337 Clone Cabernet Sauvignon - Lodi

Lodi California produces large quantities of wine each year. When I think of the area the first thing that comes to mind is Zinfandel. Several of my favorite Zins year after year are made from fruit sourced in Lodi. As time goes on more and more wines of merit, made from other varietals, are also emerging from this region. The 2005, 337 Clone Cabernet  is a good example of Cabernet grown in the Lodi region. The fruit is generally brighter and more upfront than it would be in an Old World Cabernet, or even many from Napa or Sonoma. Right after opening the nose on this Cab is a bit reticent. Forty five minutes of decanting time or so is recommended and it really starts to come into it's own. Dark Berry fruit is apparent when the nose opens up. Once it does, the wine is pretty bold and has strong berry notes upfront. The mid palate is big, lush and mouth-filling with soft tannins. A bit of Anise is apprent on the mid-palate too along with more dark berry. Black pepper notes resonates on the finish and bites against the back of the throatA lot of it's character comes up front in the form of all that big berry fruit.

337 Clone Cabernet retails in the mid teens. For that money it's a decent buy. This is definitely a Cabernet to be drunk in it's youth. It should hold where it is for a couple of years but I wouldn't expect it to improve since a lot of it's character comes up front in the form of all that big berry fruit.

A Couple of 2006 California Pinot Grigio's

Over the last couple of years it seems like Pinot Girgio is finally making it's move in the New World. In California especially, more and more wineries are producing them. As with most things the more that attempt it, the better the odds someone will get it right. Terlato Family Vineyards Pinot Grigio was sourced in the Russian River Valley. Generally speaking grapes that do well in cooler climates thrive in the Russian River valley. As such you tend to see a lot of  Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from there. It seems natural that we would start seeing Pinot Grigio sourced there too.

The Terlato Pinot Grigio has lots of citrus on the nose. The first sip reveals many of those same citrus notes as well. There is also a very present acidity in this wine. The finish bristles slightly on the back of the throat revealing a bit of viscosity. Sipped on it's own, the Terlato is OK. The acidity is perhaps a bit too glaring for this wine to be as enjoyable on it's own it might be otherwise. It did much better with food, pairing well with some mild cheeses and artisan breads. It's sells for right around $18.00.

Swanson Vineyards in Oakville has been making Estate Pinot Grigio long before it was fashionable. Having had it for quite a few consecutive vintages I can say that it's been incredibly consistent. The fruit is sourced primarily from their estate vineyard in Oakville. The 2006 has a rich mouth-feel and some citrus notes on nose. The nose also has some guava notes. The first sips reveal pear and a bit more of that citrus. The finish is long and pretty lush. Each additional sip draws you in for more and additional complexity is revealed. 

The Swanson Pinot Grigio is perfectly enjoyable sipped on it's own. But it also pears well with quite a few foods. I found it to be a great foil for mild cheeses as well as grilled chicken and lentil soup. Like the other wines I have had from Swanson Vineyards, the best word to describe the Pinot Grigio is Elegant. Although retail price is $21.00, Wine-Searcher.com shows that the Swanson Pinot Grigio is widely available for around $15.99. In some cases it can be had for less.

The Terlato Family Vineyards 2006 Pinot Grigio is enjoyable but comparing it to the Swanson Vineyards Pinot Grigio it comes up a bit short. Swanson Vineyards 2006 Pinot Grigio is the better, more complex bottle of wine and the better value. Swanson has been making exceptional wines in Napa for the better part of two decades. The 2006 Pinot Grigio, is but one example.

Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo

Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo does a good job answering the question, "What kind of songs does Rivers Cuomo write?" The eighteen tracks that make up this release run the gamut of piano ballads, punk infused numbers and jangly guitar pop to name a few of the styles he tackles. There are also a couple of covers on the album. Most notably "Little Diane," the Dion & The Belmont's chestnut. It's recorded with Sloan as his backing band. One of the great features of this CD is the extensive liner notes that Rivers Cuomo provides. They give the sort of insight into the songs, performances and inspirations that's usually reserved for box sets.

There are many fascinating tracks on "Alone...." One of them is "Dude We're finally Landing." It's less than a minute long and performed Acapella. It works perfectly.

The last track, "I was Made For You" was intended for the next Weezer album. However the band voted on a different composition instead. It's filled with melancholy and yearning, a tremendous closer.

"Alone..." works on several levels. On one hand it's a fascinating look into the creative process of the mind composing Weezer's music. Additionally it works well as a stand alone piece, even if you're unfamiliar with Weezer.  The Tunes are fleshed out enough that this doesn't sound nearly like nearly the demo reel it seems like it might be at first blush.

This album is a great choice for fans of melodic, well constructed pop music. Rivers Cuomo displays what can be achieved when the primary goal is writing a good song.

Linne Calodo - The Outsider - 2004

Linne Calodo has an impressive lineup of wines. Based in the Paso Robles area they focus on an array of blends. Many of them are either Zinfandel or Syrah based. At 68% The Outsider is mostly Zinfandel with 20% Syrah and 12% Mouvedre making up the rest. Although the Linne Calodo wines tend to be big and bold, often with high alcohol content they don't drink hot. They are in fact, incredibly well balanced wines for all their size and heft. Also impressive is their ability to age. Often wines this big and bold don't have the stuffing to age. The tendency is for that big up front fruit to dissipate and leave not much more than the alcohol behind. This is not at all the case with the Linne Calodo wines. They are sufficiently tempered with acidity and a solid backbone to have staying power. The 2004 Outsider has at least 7 or 8 years of life ahead of it, with a decade not seeming out of the question to me.

Big spice and berries from the Zinfandel are the first notes that hit you when sipping The Outsider. The Mid palate has a touch of pepper and tons more dark fruit. The finish is long and luxurious as the wine tingles your tongue for a noticeable length of time after you swallow. While it performed well right out of the bottle, The Outsider seemed to hit it's stride about 45 minutes after decanting.

The Linne Calodo wines are by and large impressive, memorable and worth seeking out.

Ryan Bingham - Mescalito

Mescalitois Ryan Bingham's major label debut. The first thing that sticks out is his voice. He sings with a whiskey soaked, world weariness that fits in well with the southwestern themed music he's making. There are a couple of spots where his vocals bring Tom Waits to mind. Musically there are a hodgepodge of influences that come through. Certainly Joe Ely and Robert Earl Keen are amongst the hints I pick up. I was also reminded of Chris Whitley's brilliant debut when I listened to Mescalito for the first time. Ryan Bingham takes all those influences and adds his talent to the mix. In doing so he has come up with a sound that is simultaneously pleasingly familiar, yet somehow new and fresh. On again, off again guitarist for the Black Crowes, Marc Ford produced the album. He did a fine job as the music shines through and isn't bogged down with any unnecessary elements. The clean production helps Bingham's voice and music mesh together.  "Bread and Water" seems to skip along to a hand-clap beat, while guitar and banjo sizzle just below the surface.  One of the other highlights "Don't Wait For Me" features a gentle and elegant slide guitar that never overpowers his impassioned vocal.

However, my absolute favorite track on the album is "Ghost of Travellin' Jones." It's a song I could see Widespread Panic playing. In fact Bingham's delivery (more than his voice) on this one puts me in a mind of John Bell, Panic's leader.  It chugs along with an passionate intensity that stuck in my head after the first listen. Repeated listens underscore it's impact.

I haven't seen Ryan Bingham live, but the songs on Mescalito sound like they were made to be played to an audience. All fourteen tracks sound real and have a terrific rawness to them. Mescalito really breathes. It's one of the best new albums it was my pleasure to hear this year. I look forward to seeing live him when he hits my area.

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Is A Joke

 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced their inductees for the 2008 ceremony a few days ago. Leading the list are Madonna and John Mellencamp. Is that really the best they can do?

Jethro Tull, Chicago, Rush, The Moody Blues and Kiss to name a few all passed the 25 year eligibility requirement years ago. Yet all of these acts have never even been on the ballot. Every one of them, had a huge hand in shaping some piece of the rock landscape over the last (roughly) 40 years.

Jethro Tull and Chicago were incredible musical innovators bringing horns or flutes to rock music while creating complex canvases with their albums. The Moody Blues also created intricate soundscapes and employed orchestras when they needed to for their vision. Rush are perhaps the best 3 musicians in any one band. No one has done more to push the envelope in progressive rock than they have, all the while making the music approachable as well. They have been doing it well for over 35 years. Kiss spearheaded an entire style of music. They revolutionized the way music is marketed and sold. You can hate that idea or you can like it. But what you can't do is ignore them and simultaneously embrace Madonna. Anything negative that can be thrown at Kiss from the perspective of image or marketing applies to Madonna as well. Hell it was Kiss in the 70's who constantly reinvented themselves musically and eventually image wise. It's not only plausible but likely that she took the idea to reinvent herself for every album and tour directly from Kiss.

All of the acts I mention have also been commercially viable for long periods of time if not their entire careers. Rush for example, has been playing arenas for 30 years. Commercial success isn't everything by any means. But when it's coupled with the impact these acts have had on rock 'n' roll it's apparent that they should have been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of fame years ago. These 5 artists are by no means an exhaustive list. There are many great artists the Rock Hall has ignored. In my opinion these are the most shocking and egregious omissions.

Most Hall of Fame's mean something. But if the Rock Hall keeps inducting the likes of Madonna while ignoring so many true innovative rockers they will continue to be a sham. I don't even think Madonna is in the category of rock. But if they want to elect her so be it. But by all means make sure the eligible, great acts are in first.

Castle Rock - 2005 Russian River Valley Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah is one of those grapes that falls below the radar for a lot of people. It's often used in blends. Zinfandel is often one of the things it's blended with. It is however bottled as a varietal also, mainly in California, and has a definite following. When it's great, Petite Sirah makes dense wines that can age a long time in the bottle. They can be inky, spicy, monoliths at times. The sorts of wines that need air and big food to settle them down and pair with. But they can be incredibly enjoyable, unique and fascinating to drink

The Castle Rock 2005 Petite Sirah from Russian River Valley in California starts off on a promising note. The nose is full of berries and the first sip, although tart, reveals some spicy characteristics. The tartness carries over to the mid palate, to the point of distraction. Well over an hour after the wine was decanted that tartness had not measurably dissipated. Some chocolate notes appear on the mid palate but they're not particualry strong. The finish does feature a touch of white pepper. But it's also a noticeably short finish. As you drink the wine you're waiting for the finish to carry itself longer in your mouth but it vanishes in an instant. All you're really left with is a tingling on your tongue from the tartness which is the main characteristic of this wine

Tartness aside, it's not unpleasant. However I do find it to be one dimensional in nature. Therefore I can not recommend this wine. It retails for right around $10.00. For that price there are scores of wines I could point out that offer a lot more bang for the buck as well as hedonistic drinking pleasure. In the category of Petite Sirah alone both Foppiano and Concannon have been making Petite Sirah for years that is consistently enjoyable vintage after vintage. if you're in the mood for Petite Sirah they're safe bets..

This New Years Eve Celebrate with Sparkling Shiraz

Most of us are conditioned to drink Champagne and other sparkling wines to highlight a celebration. The truth is that many sparklers work well with food. Additionally sparkling wine adds an element of fun that livens up any meal from breakfast through dinner. Australia tend to do things their own way. So it should be no surprise that many of the sparkling wines emanating from down under are Shiraz based. Among other things, they do Shiraz very well so this is a good thing. I just previewed a handful of Aussie sparklers and the two below were my favorites.

Leconfield 2004 Sparkling Shiraz - The nose give off a huge hit of crushed blackberry. The first sip reveals some spice notes. The mid palate has strong plum pudding flavors. This is accompanied by an undertone of brioche that hangs gently though the crisp, dry finish. Dark berry notes appear throughout and provide rich, mouth filling flavors. This wine is dry and works very well with food. I had it with roast pork loin and found it to be a splendid match. That said it sipped well on it's own. The production on the Leconfield was 750 cases. Well worth seeking out Leconfield Coonawarra Estate has been around since 1974. If this sparkling Shiraz is any indication of the quality they are putting out I'd suggest looking into their other releases as well.

Ultihorne "Flamma" Sparkling Shiraz - This ones opens with a heady aroma that just envelops your nose, making you want to dive into the glass it's so inviting. The first sip reveals mulled spice flavors and fruit that is a bit brighter than the Leconfield. The mid palate has a touch of white pepper that floats on the tongue. Raspberry, plum and spice notes emerge throughout. The finish most prominently features chocolate and biscuit notes. This wine is incredibly refreshing and each sips in an invitation to go back for more. This is also a great wine with food. I enjoyed it immensely with roasted potatoes and a rotisserie chicken. Flamma also works well on it's own as there's a lot going in this wine and it's all very enjoyable. Don't hesitate to drink it with dessert either, all that dark fruit should pair nicely with dark chocolate. Just 450 cases of this wine were produced. It's worth taking the time to find.

Both of these sparkling wines will make festive, elegant additions to your celebration on New Years Eve. But more than that these wines are proof that Sparklers should not be reserved only for special occasions. Drink them anytime.

Lange Vineyards - "Dundee Hills" Estate Pinot Noir - 2005

Willamette Valley in Oregon has several distinct wine growing regions. Within each of those the style of Pinot Noir, the valleys signature varietal can vary greatly. In general Pinot Noir in Oregon is more Burgundian in style than those produced in other parts of the US. Since most consider Burgundy to be the benchmark for great Pinot Noir, Oregon can be a revelation to new converts.

Lange Vineyards is located in the Dundee Hills Appelation of Willamette Valley. The area is known for earth with a reddish hue and extremely well balanced Pinot Noirs. Dundee Hills may in fact be the area in Oregon with the most Burgundian Pinot's of all. Lange makes several vineyard designates in addition to some cuvees.

The 2005 Dundee Hills Estate Pinot Noir is a pretty small production at 400 cases. The wines nose is a bit reticent at first. After breathing for a bit the aroma starts to come out. Raspberry is the first thing that hit me and it lingered along with a bit of dust. The mid palate shows lots more berry fruit at this point. This wine is still pretty young. With a couple more years of bottle age I's expect the earthiness of this wine to become more apparent than it is now as the fruit subsides.  This Pinot finishes with some mushroom, spice and a hint of smokiness. Overall the wine has an elegant feel. It's medium bodied with good acidity.

Suggested retail on this wine is $60.00. Some digging on Wine-Searcher.com shows it can be found for a few dollars less. This is a terrific Pinot Noir that shows what can be accomplished in Willamette Valley, making it a good bet if you want to lay a bottle of Pinot Noir down for a couple of years. Make no mistake Lange is one of the best producers of Pinot Noir in Oregon.